Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis A in Population under 30 years old in Rural Area of Zabol

Abstract Hepatitis A , like any other intestinal diseases, is common across the world. But its prevalence and epidemiological feature vary according to sanitation and crowded of people. This study which was conducted in the spring of 1377 (1998) aims at the evaluation of epidemiologic pattern of hepatitis A in Zabol. 229 people from rural area of Zabol were randomly selecteted and investigated for IgG AntiHAV. 202 people (88.6%) had antibody against HAV (95% confidence interval =84.4%-92.8%). Prevalence of the infection were 85.6% for men and 91.4% for women. But this difference was not significant. The results indicated that the infection occurred in the first year of life and its proportion incresed rapidly in such away that 79.6% of the children who were under 5 year old and 100% of 15-19 years olds were infected by hepatitis A. So hepatitis A infection in Zabol is hyperendemic and in most cases there is no need to prescribe immunoglobolin to the patient's family or relatives.